Meeting Iris

This book is written in first person.  There will be two characters narrating.  Each chapter will be one characters point of view.  Starting with Jameson.

 

                  Jameson

 

Everything happens in less than thirty seconds.  I push the door shut with my foot, think it catches, walk over to put the bag of groceries on the bar, and that's when I hear the front door bang noisily into the interior wall.  All I can see is the hind end of my 143 pound roommate as he races down the porch stairs.

 

"Heston," I yell.  I leave the bag and start the chase.

 

Heston is unpredictable with people.  He's scared the maintenance man so bad, they won't come in unless I close him in the bedroom and stand guard at the door.

 

"Shit.  Heston, stop.  Bad dog," I yell as I beat it down the side street, watching his happy tail as it gets further and further away.

 

He's up to date on his shots, but I can't take a chance on him biting someone. Not with everything else going on in my life.  I hear screams in the distance.

 

"Shit," I growl, breathless from my sprint.   "You stupid, stupid mutt.  If you bite anybody ..."  I run through the intersection without looking, narrowly missing a truck pulling away from the curb on the other side.

 

Just when I feel like my lungs are going to explode in my chest, I see him.  He's stopped, facing an old woman in a bench in front of Barron's Pharmacy.

 

"I'll be right there," I shout.  "I'm sorry."

 

If she hears me, she doesn't acknowledge me.  I can only watch in horror as she holds out her hand.  Heston approaches slowly, head slung low.  The woman is smiling, probably talking baby talk to the big behemoth of an animal. Low and behold, the damn dog licks her.   Not only that, he's wagging his back end like he's met his new best friend.

 

"Damn dog," I mutter.  I hurry towards them, careful not to let Heston see me, in case he wants to continue our game of chase.  I grab his collar before he can react.  "Ma'am, I'm so sorry if he frightened you."

 

She looks up with pale blue eyes.  "Frighten me?  Lord, no.  I grew up with a Wolfhound."

 

I relax my grip without letting go.  "Most people don't even know the breed."

 

"Very loyal and protective," she says, her fingers gently digging into the scruff of his fur.  "How old?"

 

"Two in May."

 

"He's a big boy."

 

I nod, watching as Heston melts into her hand.  I've never seen him this relaxed.

 

"He ran away.  I usually walk him at night.  He doesn't get so overstimulated then."

 

"You should walk in the daylight.  He wants to see what's going on.  They're a lot like children.  They like to see to world.  He's very handsome."

 

"Thanks."

 

She leans closer to look at him eye to eye.  "Tell your daddy you'll behave."  She looks up at me and smiles.  The lines around her eyes do little to diminish the gentle beauty of her care worn face.

 

"I feel like I owe you a coffee, at least."

 

She laughs, adjusting the sleeves of her brightly colored jacket.  "For what?  Petting your beautiful boy?"

 

"For being a kind human being who isn't telling me I'm a terrible pet owner."

 

"Dogs are like children.  They get into mischief when we turn our backs too long."

 

"I have one of those, too."

 

"Boy or girl?" she asks.

 

"Boy.  His name is Finny."

 

She chuckles.  "Oh, I love it.  Finny."

 

"It fits him.  I wasn't for it when my wife first suggested it, but, of course, she was right."

 

"Well, mothers have an unfair advantage.  They get to know their children months before they arrive."

 

Heston settles by her legs.  I shake my head.  "This is remarkable.  You definitely have a way with him."

 

"He's still got a lot of puppy in him.  But he's very smart.  You can see it in his eyes."

 

I look down the road past her. The coffee shop is just down the block.  For some reason, this woman has lulled me into a calmness I haven't felt in ages.  I don't want to leave just yet.  "I haven't introduced myself."

 

"You're Heston's father, well, Heston and Finny's father."  She grins.  "I'm Iris."  She extends her hand. Her skin is soft and cool to my touch, like my grandmother's used to be.

 

"I'm Jameson."

 

"Pleasure to meet you, Jameson."  She raises her arm and looks at her wristwatch.  "I guess my prescription is ready."  She reaches down and pats Heston's head.  

 

"You're very easy to talk to," I blurt.  "Geez, that sounded really creepy.  I'm not, not really.  I mean, I'm not a creep.  I just have been enjoying our conversation."

 

Iris says nothing for a second or two.  It's almost as if she's sizing me up.  Maybe she's a mystic and can read auras.  I'll bet mine is pretty dark.  She picks up her purse, slips it on her shoulder and stands.  "I shouldn't be more than a few minutes, if you're still up for that coffee."

 

"Oh, yes, yes, of course.  I'll be, we'll be right here when you come out."

 

I watch Iris walk into the pharmacy then I look down at Heston.  "You shouldn't run away.  That's bad.  Only bad dogs run away.  But, I'll forgive you this time.  I think we've just made a new friend, Hessy."

 

And, God knows, I could use a friend.